Improvement in type-writing machines



IAnsa-01W. TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

' Ptented Nov. 9,'1875.

, 4 sheetsfsheet'l.

M. ALISSOFF.

4Sheets-Sheet2.

'YYE-WRITING MACHINE.

Patented Nov. 9, 1875.

r A @Lia 'I' f Mdel Y y I listens-sheets. M. ALI-ssen. TYP'EWRITINGMACHIN'E.

o.1`69,757.` Patented Nqv.9,1875.'

M. ALISSOFF.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

4 Sheets-Sheez 4.

Patnted Nov.9,1875.

' MMM.,

UNITED STATES Farrartcrv OFFICE.

MICHAEL ALISSOFF, OF ST. PETERSBURG,RUSSIA.

IMPRQVEMENT lN TVPEWRITING MACHINES.

pecication forming part of Lettera Patent N o. 169.757, dated'N-ovember 9, 1875; application tiled April 19, i875.

To all whom it may con'rl'ern:`

Be it known that I, MICHAEL ALIssoFF, of St. Petersburg, Ru'ssia-,`ha've invented an Im proved Printing,y Apparatus, called Typolithograph'ot' which the following is a specification:

The apparatus invented by me, and called f Fast Printer,72 is represented in the drawings annexed to'this specilication. .The-like parts. are marked in all ings with the same letters. Figure 1 is a front elevation, Fig. 2 a side elevation, and Fig a plan, all partly in section, of an apparatus constructed according; to my 'invent-ion. Figs. 4 and A5 are detail views of the spacing mechanism. Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are similar views of the type cylinder or drum H, showing,r its construction and arrangement in relation to the types; and Fig. 9 isa perspective view, showing` the construction ot' the type as used with my apparatus. f y

, The whole apparatus consists,principally, in

the drawthe i'ollowinr; three separate parts: First, the

moving slide, (carriage,)carryingthe axle with the drum, into which theA type is set. Second, a rocking frame into which is xed the cylinder, with the paper to be printed rolled around. 0n the same trame is' placed the mechanism jfor turning the cylinder more or less, in proportion to the size ot' type to be printed.

Third, the inkdistrilnitinr mechanism.

Y In order to he more explicit, we shall de scrihe'each ot' these. parts separately.

1.. The slide, @arrangedln the middle of a cast-iron plate, A A A A, fixed on asmall wooden table, moves to and fro the slide B B BB, between two grooves, C C and D D. The slide .BB supports the'axle E E, the i'ore part vvof which has' a handle, F F, for turningt-hc axle E E to the one or the other side. The handle turns round the dial-plate, on which the `letters are indicated, exactly in the same inanner as in telegraph apparatus of former systems' withdial-platcs. -On the axle EE is ilninova-blr iixed the metallic drum H H, on the surface whereot are cut, inV parallel direc.- ton witlrthe axle, channels or grooves 11,1, all around. the drum, and at equal distance from each other. The number ot' these. grooves is equal to the number of' teeth of medial-plate.

pressed against the tooth .corresponding to that letter, the corresponding groove of the drum with the same letter is on the uppermost part of the drum, and at the same time exactly on the point of contact with the cylinder W W', around which the paper ,is rolled. It at that moment the cylinder is pressed against the drum, there will be obtained on 'the paper au impression of the same letter opposite whichthe handle F F was stopped.

To either side of the drinn-are screwed dat rings ha, covering theends of grooves. Through ythe rings h3 screws h4 are penetrating into each of the grooves, by me'ans whereof the type set in these grooves are compressed, and

thus lfixed in the-drum.

The type ordnarilynsed in printingoices are not adapted for our apparatus. The whole difference, however, is merely that all type destined for the apparatus has the same body for all letters-02. e., all letters have the form ot square Aprsmsof equal size for broadletters as Well as for narrow ones-while with the ordinary printing-type the width of the body. depends 'on the width of the letter it bears. V Here is to be observed that in our type the letter is not placed in the middle of the eye, hut on the edge to the left, in consequence whereof' a broad letter will occupy the* whole eye, while a narrow one is placed on the edge to the left.

The apparatus can .be adapted'for printing with one or with several dit'erent types.` In either case the dial-plate G G bears an alphabet, lwith the marks ot' punctuation, in a circle; but in the latter case there is under eachletter a figure or a typographical mark.

The typeis placed intothe apparatus in the following manner; Th'handle is stopped op posits any one of. the letters shown on the dialplate,.then pressed against the tooth, and

.grooves ofthe drum.

. tic.

2 Anaamwy herenpoi: the type is set` into the uppermost` '-ratedi'rom each other by spaces of equal size,

and the type with the spaces in the same groove arecempressed by the aforementioned screw penetrating into the groove.' The f0l -lowng grooves are illed with type and marks in the same order, whereby all `initials of one type will be placed in form of thejrst circle around thedrum. The second ring will consist in small letters, Kre.

In an apparatus adapted for printing with two different types, the type is set into- .the 'lhe line may be cast so as to form one- `piece, instead of consisting in separate parts, which would considerably facilitate the placing et' type into the apparatus. The type may likewise be east ot or'- dina-ry type-metal, or made by galvan'o-plasit is obtained that by the drums touching the cylinder only one letter or mark is printed on the paper, althougheach groove contains sevveral letters and marks, it is necessary' to observe'that. the Aaxles ot' the drum and =cylin der are placed vertically to eachother; and as,

two 'convex' surfaces in such position can touch each other only in one place, it is evi-4 dent 'that vonlyfthat.letter will be printed which is at. the point ot' contact of the cylinder and the drum. Above is explained how', by aid 'of'the handle F F turning round the dial-plate G G, the one or other` letter of the same type, beingon the salire level in vertical position to the axle'ot' the drum, is placed -mider'the cylinder. The changing of type is performed by aidof another handle, I, ixed to the fore part. of thescrcw J J. This screw passes through the nut K, Fig. 2, which isljxedunderneath to the slide B B. By turning this screw in the one or the other direction, the slide ismoved foi-ward and backward.. The distance between the turns of the screw is equal tothe spaces separating the letters in the grooves of the druin, and, consequently, it, for instance. ai'terprinting an initial one wishes'to print small letters', it is required,

to given. full turn to the handle I. For printing an initial after a. figure of the saine type it is necessary to give two full turns backward, &c. The indicator L, Fig. 3, tlxed in front to the slide, and moving along with the same,.p cints out witlrits end onV an immovln order tou'nderst-and by what lne-.ms

turns given to the screw. Ou the axle E E is.

fixed, beside the drum for type, a mu', M M, into which, instead of type, are set pins of ditlerent length. Each letter in the drum H H has a corresponding pin on the muti M M. The greater the width ofthe letter the shorter thccorresponding pin, and, vice versa., the narrower the letter the longer the corresponding pin. The action of these pinscauses each letterl in ther line printed to occupy exactly the room required by its width. rPhe manner iu which .`these pins are acting in the apparatus shall be hereinafter fully explained.

2. The rocking frame-Upon ,the metallic plate, servingas basis to the apparatus, are

vtinted two supports, N and N". Through these supports are passing two screws, O and 0', with pointed ends, entering into the pan corresponding to each screw, and placed on the frame P P P P. These screws servf*l like an axle, whereon .the frame is rocking. On the hind 'part of the frame are two cross-bars, whereonthe screws O and 0 are resting. Ou each ot these cross-bars is iixcd a steel spring. Fig. 2 shows only one of these springs, R R. Being more or less compressed by means of the screws S and. S', these springs are constantly lifting up the fore part ot' the 'frame P P. Thus the frame, when pressed downand left alone, lrises again through the action ot' the springs. For preventingr the t'ranic going down lower. than required for the' regular action of Vthe apparatus, two screws, G and C, pass through the frame on either side. These screws strike with their lower ends on the columns U and U, fastened to the foundationplate ot' the apparatus; consequently t"e frame will go down until the screws G and C como into contact with the columns; and, further,

with the screw d', is-visible. The screw dY strikes with its end on the .pin e, tixed to the column u. In this manner the stroke of the frame can be increased and diminished by aid ot' the screws e and d. Into the frame P P is set the 'axle Z Z, on which the cylinder W is placed. This axle, with the cylinder, is taken out of the apparatus whenever it is necessary to roll around the same the paper destined for printing.

Fortaking this axle out of the appara-tus it is required to loosen the screw Y on the left of the frame P P. The cylinder W W moves on the axle Z Z forward and backward. To make the cylinder turn together with the axle, thisjixle has lengthwise a groove or incision, b Fig. 3, into which enters a hook, a, fastened to the cylinder and pressed from above by a. sprintf. In parallel direction with the axle Z Z on the frame reposes in pans the screw 'l T, with the nut V V. This screwis destined to prevent the cylinder from stirring `from its place while turning together with the movingr freely on the rod N N, Fig. 3. To the tube h h is fastened a spring, turning round' the point j. After lowering the hook j" f and its clasping the tube h h, the springj is turned until it coines to the 'hook and presses the sameelpse to the tube h h, and -at the sameI time to the cylinder. After finishing a line, it'l is required to commence a new one. to more the cylinder to the right, which is ei'ected .by applying a key to the right-hand end of thescrew T T, and giving;r it one or more turns,

consideringl the space desired between the lines. By turning' the 'screw T T, the nut i; 'v will be moved to the righand consequently the cylinder W W will move along with the nut.. To the right-hand end of the screwis fastened, likewise, and. turning together with the screw T T, a disk, B', having a small notch, into which enters the button of the spring,` t" 'i'. This 'spring prevents the screws turning spontaneously in one or the other dirr'ection during the. work, `and `'the snapping of the spring-button facilitates counting the turns given to the screw in changing the lines. 0n the axle Z Z is fastened to the righthand end la pinion, K, the teethwhereof catch the endless screw A A. Whenever the screw A A' is turned' more or less, the cylinder W -W will naturally turn more or less at the same time. `Here'we think it necessary to observe that the endless screw A A wants four turns to cause the cylinder to make only one full turn.

The mechanism following hereafter is the most important, and at once the only complicated, part of the apparatus, and, therefore, I shall endeavor to describe the same as amply as possible. This mechanism consists in several parts, on the cooperation whereof it depends toca-use each letter in the printedl line to occupy the space wanted forits width.' This part of the mechanism is represented separately in Fig. l in two diierent positions; also in Fig. 4 at the time when the. frame is raised, and in Figa-5 when it is low- Qll-i. 0n the fore part of the endless screw A' A (special-drawings) is the handle I? 2, turning vfreely/.round the axle of the screw A' A.

Further, there is. a steel 'ratchet-wheel, with very fine teeth, m m,'and afterv that a brass disk, n n,.with even rixn--L c., a wheel withthe foundation-plate of the apparatus. When the point A is lowered, the handle Il2 l2, having its point of support in o, will rise, with its end lK turning at the same time round the point A, and on the reverse, when the point Ais raised, the support o o', connected with the handle in the point o, will lower its end l". The handle l2 l2 is connected behind with the. arm p l pl, which turns round the point l3 until the end of the arm p touches theI rim of the disk n n. On this arm is fastened, the

catch (ratchet) r r', which turns round the point r. This catch is supported underneath by the pin s, toward which it'is pressed by a very weak -spring pressing against this catch from above.

When the frame P P is raised the arm p Z3 pl is in the positign'showii in Fig. 4. The end p of the arln in this position will repose on the .rim ofthe disk un, and the ratchet must catch with its end r in the teeth ofthe ratchet-wheel;

bntas'soon as the pointA is lowered the handie l Z2 must, as aforesaid, turn round the axle in the direction shown by the indicator, and

as this handle,.by means ofthe ratchet, catches A in the ratchetwvheei, the ratchet-\\"heel otfcourse must likewise turn iu the same direction, and, together with it, also the endless screw.` The screw A A will' turn the cylinder with the paper. 4

Npwwe sha-ll examine how the'turning ot the/ cylhnlermny be stopped according, to the width ofthe letterto be printed on the paper rolled round the cylinder. The arm p i3 pl is connected with the support p2 t, which itself is connected at itsv lower end with the lever u, turning round the pointu. Theilevcr u at its end has a pin,fv, which constantly' remains under the muti' M M, and exactly opposite that row ot' pins of this inuit' which corresponds to the type and the letters the apparatus is print ingr.

The system of these levers actsin the fol lowing manner: When the point A lowers, the end l2 of the handlewill rise, causing the ratchet-wheel to turn. At the saine time the support p2 t, goingl down and moving in the direction of the indicator, will strive to change its inclined position forthevertieal, thus diminishing the distance between the points p and't,'unjd causing the support p2 t to press against the' arm t of the lever u. The result ot' thisn'iotion will be that the end 'u of the lever mustrise together with the pin. This motion ot' the lever is' aided bya'spiral springr tastened'with one end to the end of the lever t, and with the'other to the foulnlation-plate. The action ofthe lever tu c will last until the pin v touches one of the pins set in the mutf M M. Thereafter, the arm t of the lever being` prevented going down any more, the support .pat will begin to weigh on the point pl, in consequence whereof the arm ppl is compelled .to turn round thc point L, and its end 1J, after leaving` the disk n n, will rise; and.Y by aidof the piu s, lift the catch r 1" out ct' the teethot' the ratchehwheel. The further motion of this wheel, as well as that ofthe endless screw, will then cease,and the turningoi' the cylinder like wiso will be stopped. Consequently, when the pin 'v meets one of the pins of the mutt' M M, the longer the latter pini. e., the narrower the letter tobe printedthe faster the catch r r will snap oft', and the less the cylinder with the paper will turn, and, vice versa, the shorter the piu of the mutt' M Mz'. e., the greater the width of the letter to be printed-the more the cyluderwill turn, and consequently the more space will be occupied in the line by the letter. In either case the catch will snap oit' before the cylinder touches the drum with the type, so that at the moment of this contact the druln is not turning, and consequently the printed letters will never appear blotted. Ai'ter having fullynuderstood the action of the mechanism turning the cylinder with the paper, it is easy to comprehend the order in which the pins on the melf M M are distributed in accordance with the type placed in thc drum H H. The pin u may, at pleasure, he lengthened or shortened, whereby all letters in the line will stand more closely or farther apart. This circumstance is very important, as it permits to place, instead ot' one type, into the saine apparatus a larger or smaller type, whereby it is only required to lower or raise the pin 'v a little in order to place all letters of the new type in the line quite correctly, end according t0 the width ci the new type put in. For begin niugand endingthe lilies correctly a hand is ap plied to the torelnostoutward part ofthe endless screw A A', moving round a small dial-plate with divisions C'. This hand is fixed to the axle of the endless screw in such manner that it moves along with the screw d urin g the work. ing. The hand can be moved aloneto either side without causing; the screw to stir. In order to begin the lines regularly in one line, after placipg the cylinder with the paper in the apparatus, the key is applied to the foremost end ot' the endless screw A' A', and by turning the same the cylinder will likewise turn until the place-where the line is to begin comes to the line in which the contact of the cylinder with the drum ensues. Hcreai'ter the hand ot' the dial-plate C' is placed on O, and beginning always the lines at t) one may be quite sure that the beginning of the lilies on the printed page is perfectly correct.

The ending ot' the lines is performed in the following, manner: 0u thc axle oi' the cylinder Z Z, alongside of the pinion K, is a wheel witli only one tooth, D', Fig'. 3, which, while the rylluder is turning, catches a hanuner striking on a small hell, E'. This wheel turns freely ou the axle, and may be, at pleasure, fixed to theaxle in whatever position wanted by means of' ascrcw passing through the nave-ring'. At tn e beginning ot' working'. this wheel is always iixcd on the axle in such manner that during thc work the bell will in d ue time give notice when the line is about to be tinished. After the hell has rung, a certain number of lettersfifteen to twenty-are printed to a certain de grec ou the dial-plate C', whereby must be calculated whether the last word finds sottieient roo`u1.in the line, or how it will be best divided. the letters may be made narrower or wider.

,lu the position ot' the apparatus shown in' the draw-ings joined to this specification. the frame P l) P P is pressed against the drum with the type by means ot' two bars, the upper ends ot" which are fixed to the frame, and

the lower ones connected. by a cross-bar, with a treadle fixed thereon. pressed down with the foot theframc goes down until the screws ot' the frame strikefagainst the supports. These screws are adapted vto serve for regulating the pressure exercised by if required, the last spaces betweenv When this treadle is the cylinder with the`paper on thetype in the drum.

It' necessary, transporting the apparatus may be rendered more easy by constructing the same in such. manner that the frame is lowered by 'a lever, to be handled by the per-- son working at the apparatus. Likewise, to avoid the knocking caused by the screws/striking against the supports, thc apparatus can` be so arranged that the lowering of the frame is produced by eccentrics put in motion by treadles.

` 3. The n7cstributing mechanism-Ou the left-hand side of the apparatus, between two grooves fastened to the cast-iron plate, which serves as foundation, is a small slide, q q, moving forward and backward. 0n this slide stands a frame, x w x 4v, with a metallic cylinder, y y, turning around the axle, Figs. 1 and 3. y

Before beginning to work, the ordinarylithographic ink is put ou the cylinder y y exactly in the same way as it is done with the'inkrollers for typographie and lithographie printing. For putting on the ink easily the cylinder y y, together with the frame w a: :I: w, 1s v taken out ot' the apparatus. The cylinder y y, when placed in theapparatus, rests on the disk fz, Fig. 1, which turns on an axle reposing,` on two supports fixed on the foundation! plate. Thus the ink passe-1t from the roller y y ou the disk z, 'which again transmits the same to two other rollers place-:i on top ofthe one which is fastened on the slide B carrying the druinwith the type. The latter two are applied iu the following manner: Through the slide B B, under the drum with the type, and in parallel direction to its axle, passes an axle, m' m', whereon the frame fn.' n n' n' is fastened. This frame supports the gelatine iukitig-roller q' q, which can beV pressed against the drum with the type more or less, as may be regnirrd. This pressing is produced by tho screw'fa', Figfl, acting; on the foremost end of the axin m' m', Fics. l and 3. 0in either sido ot' the gelatine roller, on the saine axle, is a toothed wheel, s' s'. pressed against the drum the wheels s' s press When the roller ql qI is against the india-rubber rings put on thedrum, in consequence whereof, when the drum is turning, its motion is transmitted to the roller q1 q, and, through the latter, also to the other ink-distributing rollers. Between the gelatine roller ql gl and the disk z, Fig. 1, a metallic roller is interposed, and applied to a system of levers fastened on the frame n 'n 'n n, in such manner that, by the aid oi the screw d, the interposed roller lzo can be, at the same time, pressed against the disk z and the gelatine roller q1 q1, Fig. I. The arrangement of these rollers is rendered sufficiently comprehensible` by the drawings to `require no further explanation. We deem it, however, necessary to obseri'e that the disk a and the roller y y are placed on the foundation-plate, and the disk z is constantly in the plane of intersection of the cylinder bearing the printing-paper and the drum, while the gelatine roller g' ql and the interposed roller w are moving forward .and backward along with the slide B B. The

disk z transmitting the ink in form of anarrow stripe, the ink will be, by this arrangenient of the rollers, constantly put only onl the t'ype printed at the time. All other types will remain clean until they are in the plane of intersection ot' the cylinder and drumi. e., until itis used for printing. This circumstance isfof great importance, because only by this arrangement it is possible to pass, during the work, from one type tol another without fearing that the type or letters that have uotbeeu printed for a long time be too abundantly inked.

,Practice has pointed out the necessity to apply to the right-hand side of the apparatus, likewise, agelatine roller resembling, in every respect, thegelatine roller on the left. This latter rolle;I receiving the ink by its contact with Lthe type-drum, it equalizesthe ink by taking it oit' from the letters inked too much and distributing the same to those that were not inked sufficiently.

Destination ofthe apparatusg-The apparatus invented by me,.and called Fast Printer, is destined to be used4 First, in offices, chanceries,&c., for making clean printed'copies,instcad of copyin g by hand, in all cases'where at'air writing is wanted. Working by the apparatus, compared with work of copyists, will `o'tl'er the following advantages: (a.) t will he more speedy than ordinary copyists writing. (b.) It demands hardly any skill whatever, and can be performed by anybody who can read and write. (c.) Work ieg with the apparatus maybe easily learned ywithin a few days, as' experience has shownr (d.) Working with the apparatus is less i'atiguing. (ci) What is printed by the apparatus 'may be easily reproduced in any number of cbpies Wanteih (f.) Mistakes are easily corrected.

Second, ii! lithographie establishments, the apparatus ,is destined to serve for mechanical composition, and, if so employed, it will; hc-

sides some of' the advantages men tioned above, oii'er thctollowingadvantages: (a.) Composing the first prooi' intended to' be afterward reproduced by lithographyis performed'more rapidly than by ordinary typographical coinposition. (b.) It saves the expense forpur. chasing and renewing type. the compositor to dotbc work at home. (d.) In lithographie printing the drawings printed in the text will be considerably less expensive than those printinf".

l claim as my in vention l. The type cylinder or drum H, having-a series otl grooves formed therein longitudinally of the axis, said cylinder having at both ends slightlyprojecting rims h2, covered with india rubber or its equivalent, in combination with the flat rings or disks h3 and the set-screws li, substantially as and i'or the purposes specitied.

2. The type-cylinder H and index-dial G, in combination withv the sliding frame B, operated by means of the screw J and sleeve K, the index L, and the fixed index-plate L', notched disk l, and spring ll, all constructed to operate substantially as and for the purposes specified.

.-3. The sliding frame B, index-plate L', index L, type-cylinder H, indexalial G,and4 index-hand F, in conilinatiou with the papercylinder 'W, mounted uponan axis lying in a horizontal plane., and at right angles to the' type-cylinder, substantially as `and for the purposes-set forth.

4, The paper-cylinder W, provided at one end with a springhook, and at the other end with a grooveddisk, g, and mounted upon' an axis having a longitudinal groove, b, formed therein, for the purposes described, in combi nation'with the endless screwT, carrying a notched disk, B', and a spring disk or catch, i', the threaded sleeve V, hook f,rod n, and sleeve h, provided with a spring, j, all arranged to operate substantially as described.

5. The rocking frame P, operated as set forth, and provided with the set-screws (l d', in combination with the columns U, having projecting studs e, for controlling and adiust# ing the rocking or vibrating motion of said frame, substantially as specified.

6. rlhe type-cylinder H, in combination with the'papcr-cylinder W, constructed andarranged as described, the endless screw T, sleeves V lL, iiookf, and the rocking or vibratin g framev P, all arranged to operate substantiall y as described, and for the .purposes set forth.

7. TheinutfM, provided with a series ot'pins, corresponding in number to the number ot' types in the type-cylinder, the length of said pins varying according to the width of the type, in combination with thcadjustable screw c, whereby the spaces occupied by said types on the 'paper are adjusted, substantially as specified.

8. The type-cylinder H., in combination with (c.) It 'permits placed in the text of typographie the mu" M and tbe spacing mechanism, consisting of the axle A, constructed substantinlly as shown and described, the ratchetheel m, disk gn, tbe arm p 191, pnwl 'r 1", arm l?, index-dial C, connecting-rods 01.12, lever u,

`and pin o., all arranged to operate substan- 9. The type-cylinder H, :nuff M, sliding,r frame B, paper-cylinder W',endless screw T, rod N, sleeves V lz, bookf, pinion K, nvxle A', ratchet-Wheel m, disk n, pnwl r fr, arms 12p p, connecting-rods 0192, lever u, pin o, and roeking,r fra-ine P, all arranged, constructed, and combined to operate substantially'asfsbown and described.

l0. The papereylinder W, axis Z, und the pinion K, in combination with the exis A', dislrD, tootlrD, tbe signzilbcll E', and hainxner I, ull arranged to operate substantiullyas and for the purposes specified.

l1. The ink-rollers g1 q1, mounted upon theA frames n 'n'.tbe shafts m', and set-screws d', in combina-tion with the sliding frame B, substantially as andY for the purposes setforth.'

ranged as set forth, tbe roller w, arranged with capability ot' adjustment by means ofthe screw d, the disk fz, roller y, mounted' upon a tilting axle or frame, m, und tbe sliding frame q, all arranged'and constructed substnntiellyr as suewn, :and for the `purposes specified.

13. The @finalizing-roller q2, arranged nsde# scribed, in combination with the sliding frame` B Vund type-cylinder H, snbsta-ntiallyes and for the purposes set forth. o

14. The type-cylinder H, constructed substantially as described, in vcombine-tion with the inking nlechunism, arranged als setforth, nnd tbe sliding,` frame B and the milled wheels s s, all larranged to operate substantially as specified.

In.' testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereuntoset'my hand. L

MICHAEL ALISSOFF.

Witnesses: l

N. TSHEKALOFF,

A.YMrt:HELssoHN.V 

